b.buying & keeping

general guidelines and tips

c.uses

try something new

cosmetic

Used to make mouthwash, skin washes, diaper rash salves and other cosmetics. Cinquefoil is also a good bath additive.

culinary

The fresh herb is used as a salad green, but dried cinquefoil isn’t generally used in cooking. It is, however, taken as tea or tincture. A strong infusion of the herb is combined with honey to make homemade cough syrup.

aromatic

While not aromatic itself, cinquefoi is sometimes combined with fragrant resins and ground spices to produce ceremonial incense.

industrial

Compounds obtained from the plant are used in anti-wrinkle cosmetics.

some recommendations

other products to love

[ calendula ]

Use cinquefoil and calendula together in skin washes, salves and lotions.

[ myrrh gum ]

d.flavor profile

wild crafted, cut & sifted
cinquefoil herb

Unremarkable as a culinary herb.

e.formulas & recipes

wild crafted, cut & sifted
cinquefoil herb

coming soon

f.what else you should know

wild crafted, cut & sifted
cinquefoil herb

Cinquefoil, also known as septfoil and five-finger grass, is a member of
the rose family that is widely distributed throughout Europe and western
Asia. Because the high tannin content gives the herb a very bitter
flavor, it is not used in cooking. If, however, the young leaves and
shoots are collected before the plant flowers, they are edible and
pleasant as an addition to spring salads.

The thick rhizome of the plant has been harvested for centuries to
produce a red dye for leather and textiles. The herb has also earned a
place in folklore as an ingredient in witches’ flying ointment, as well
as in many love potions and prosperity spells.

While the high concentration of tannins in the mature plant make it too
bitter for use as food, the astringent properties of its compounds make
it an excellent addition to topical formulations for the skin.

Background: Cinquefoil was a popular ingredient in magical potions during the Middle Ages, and thought to be especially powerful as a love potion. Fishermen used it in their nets to ensure a good harvest from the sea.

Description: A perennial plant, Cinquefoil is found primarily in dry, arid places in Canada and the United States. Its name Five finger grass comes from the growth pattern of the petioled leaves, which resemble small chubby fingers. The bright yellow flowers appear from April through August.